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GPFontaine
Joined: Dec 06 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 11244
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I see a ton of people with iPhones and Blackberry's who make very little money. In fact, most of them live at home because they have little money. The phones cost them $200 up front and usually about $100 a month. $1400 a year isn't something to scoff at.
My sister is a perfect example. She is moving across the country. She has no job yet. She lives with my parents after coming home from Boston. Yet she affords a Blackberry and seemingly couldn't live without it. She thinks she will have a job lined up for $30 - $40k a year, but she doesn't yet.
Personally I have avoided a smart phone because of the cost, but comparatively I should be able to afford it. I use computers all day, so I haven't seen the need to carry one with me. In the past I have had work issued Blackberry devices and I actually expect an iPhone from work soon. I use the devices, but still find that if I didn't have work driving the need, I wouldn't require one.
So what do you think?
Do you own an iPhone or SmartPhone?
Do you have a job? If you do, can you really afford the device?
No shame here, I'm just curious to know what people think.
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Cattivo
Joined: Apr 14 2006
Location: Lake Michigan
Posts: 3332
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Most people in this country do not live within their means. They buy everything on credit and then get deep into debt. This is simply because society tells them that they should have an item, so they buy it so that they can "keep up with the Jones'", even though they can't afford it. People are stupid.
At least it keeps the repo man in business.
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Kubo
Joined: Aug 24 2005
Location: Mount Holly, NJ
Posts: 1062
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I'm sort of a minimalist, so I usually get what I need and only buy stuff with bells and whistles (like the iPhone or Blackberry) if I'm really taken with the product (i.e. I'm getting an 80GB PS3).
That said, I am still refusing to buy iAnything. I don't need an iPod- I can't imagine a situation where I'd need 3000 songs at once. My MP3 player holds about 200, that's all I'll need at the gym, and it cost much less. I don't want a Mac- I've grown up with PCs and know how to maintain their hardware. Finally, I sure as hell don't have or want an iPhone. I have a shitty old Nokia... I don't need a computer in my pocket, I spend enough time in front of one as it is.
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 Thou, because I am wroth, be not dismayed, for I shall win the strife, whoever circle round within for the defence. This their insolence is not new, for of old they used it at a less secret gate, which still is found without a bolt. Above it thou didst see the dead inscription; and already on this side of it
descends the steep, passing without escort through the circles,
One such that by him the city shall be opened to us. |
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Cattivo
Joined: Apr 14 2006
Location: Lake Michigan
Posts: 3332
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Exact same situation for me Kubo.
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Nekkoru
Title: Polish Pickle Wench
Joined: Jan 25 2008
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Posts: 1319
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Well, I use a Sony Ericsson W580i which is really cheap nowadays and can be substituted for a smartphone in many ways. I have a kickass web browser (Opera Mini), it can play music in a neat built-in player (the Walkman), I also have a jabber IM client (Bombus, because it's made of awesome) and a 20mb data plan which costs me two bucks monthly. I also have an IRC client and a SSH client, just in case.
All in all, my phone is perfect. If it only had a keyboard, it would be the most awesome thing evar.
Conclusion: you don't need a smartphone to have all of it's features. Just get a W580i. Just look at this sleek motherfucker.
Seriously. You will not tell me that this phone is not sexy.
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You should totally check out the IRC channel.
While you're at it, go check out my band, Her Majesty's Heroines.
| Cameron wrote: |
I now bestow upon you the title of Most Awesome Person.  |
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GPFontaine
Joined: Dec 06 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 11244
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I actually have the white/silverish one. I got it for $50 when it first came out. I LOVE it.
I have picture messaging turned off and all data plans turned off.
I have 100 text messages and 1000 any time minutes with rollover. $42 before tax.
The plan is from years ago but they have kept it going.
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Ice2SeeYou
Title: Sexual Tyrannosaurus
Joined: Sep 28 2008
Location: South of Heaven
Posts: 1761
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I've been saying the same thing. It's one of the biggest problems facing this country today. People have no concept of saving money for a rainy day, or for something actually worthwhile (down payment on a house, for example).
I see guys making $28 grand per year driving pimped out cars with huge sound systems that probably cost more than the car is worth. Meanwhile they're living at home and working 3 jobs to pay for it. Maybe it's worth it to them, but I don't see how you're ever going to improve your current position in life if you maintain that course.
Cell phones are another great example. 10 years ago (ok, maybe 15) nobody had cell phones. Now suddenly we simply can't live without them? Is it really worth $150 per month so a fucking teenage brat can yack to her girlfriends while driving?
I don't want tell people what to do with their money, but common sense appears to be going extinct.
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Sydlexia.com - Where miserable bastards meet to call each other retards. |
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Mr. Bomberman
2009 Forum Champion
Title: (still) token black.
Joined: Jan 27 2006
Location: Home of the lost towers
Posts: 4543
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GPFontaine
Joined: Dec 06 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 11244
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| Mr. Bomberman wrote: |
| I have a Sidekick 3 atm, but I'm planning on getting one of these when they come in a couple of weeks: |
See how the screen isn't squared off to the base.
That would fucking drive me nuts.
Even though this phone looks cool, it also looks like a plastic piece of shit that will make me angry.
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Douche McCallister
Moderator
Title: DOO-SHAY
Joined: Jan 26 2007
Location: Private Areas
Posts: 5672
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I have the LG Dare, it's basically an iphone, 8GB microSD card, touch everything, internet which I don't use, and it came with unlimited text and picture messaging. 40 bucks a month. Phone cost me $109 when I renewed. Only thing is when I got it I had no idea EVERYONE would own one in the area. Still like it a lot.
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Burt Reynolds
Title: Bentley Bear
Joined: Apr 07 2008
Location: California
Posts: 1399
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Since I'm so cool and popular, it's only fitting that I own a Zack Morris Phone, or ZPhone for you buzzword types.
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Dances with Wolves 2 is gonna ROCK! |
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Knyte
2010 SLF Tag Champ*
Title: Curator Of The VGM
Joined: Nov 01 2006
Location: Here I am.
Posts: 6749
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I got a Blackberry Curve 8320, and it's cheaper to pay a month then my Sanyo Katana was.
I had Sprint for 3 years, and was paying about $115/month for 2 lines, 1000 minutes, and nights starting @ 6pm. I had a Sanyon Katana, which was a Razr knockoff that had shite for features.
Now I have the Crackberry, and pay $95 a month for 2 lines, 700 minutes, and unlimited internet on the Crackberry.
So, I'm saving money with the Smartphone. However, I can tell you one thing. T-Mobile is the worst wireless company, ever. I mean it. They suck the cock.
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Douche McCallister
Moderator
Title: DOO-SHAY
Joined: Jan 26 2007
Location: Private Areas
Posts: 5672
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| Burt Reynolds wrote: |
| Since I'm so cool and popular, it's only fitting that I own a Zack Morris Phone, or ZPhone for you buzzword types. |
Damn you don't even have call waiting? If you want to be cool like us just get some ductape a camcorder and a digital camera and tape them to the Morris. Then you basically have all the now included features.
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Ice2SeeYou
Title: Sexual Tyrannosaurus
Joined: Sep 28 2008
Location: South of Heaven
Posts: 1761
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| Knyte wrote: |
So, I'm saving money with the Smartphone. However, I can tell you one thing. T-Mobile is the worst wireless company, ever. I mean it. They suck the cock. |
I've got T-Mobile's pay as you go deal. Works good for me, but I hardly ever talk on the phone. I use about 100 minutes over like 3 months, lol.
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Sydlexia.com - Where miserable bastards meet to call each other retards. |
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Quantinuum
Title: Mathematician
Joined: Jun 19 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 218
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I saved up and walked into the store and put down my money on the counter and said, "give me a HTC TyTN II".
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there are 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who dont.
.ʇuop oɥʍ ǝsoɥʇ puɐ ʎɹɐuıq puɐʇsɹǝpun oɥʍ ǝsoɥʇ 'p1ɹoʍ sıɥʇ uı ǝ1doǝd ɟo sǝdʎʇ 01 ǝɹɐ ǝɹǝɥʇ |
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GPFontaine
Joined: Dec 06 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 11244
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Char Aznable
Title: Char Classic™
Joined: Jul 24 2006
Location: Robot Boombox HQ
Posts: 7542
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I have a beat-up LG CU500 that I got free from a friend. I don't want to spend the money for a smartphone, and it wouldn't do me any good since I'm on AT&T's prepaid.
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Blackout
Title: Captain Oblivious
Joined: Sep 01 2007
Location: That Rainy State
Posts: 10376
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My LG is so old I can still make custom ringtones with the voice recorder, no video no pics, barely texts. 
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username
Title: owner of a lonely heart
Joined: Jul 06 2007
Location: phoenix, az usa
Posts: 16135
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i have a samsung sph-a900.
nothing too fancy. takes pics and vids. has basic online access. real simple mp3 player. about 48 megs of memory.
i hardly ever talk on my phone, mostly cause i work at a call center and im on the phone all day. so i spend most of my time texting. i send a quadrillion texts a month. i dont need a phone w/all that extra fancy crap. unless i worked IT and needed access to my email all the time.
i have a nephew who is 11 years old and wants a smart phone. idk why he does, he really only has about 3 friends he calls. is terrible at using the internet. only ever goes online to look up shoes. and cant even figure out my phone.
damn youth and their easily impressionable consumerist attitude.
or something
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| Klimbatize wrote: |
| I'll eat a turkey sandwich while blowing my load |
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